Radio antenna



March 14, 1944. G, SNYDER 2,344,425

RADIQ ANTENNA Filed Aug. 26, 1942 5 cs o2J e Patented Mar. 14, 1944 RADIO ANTENNA Gerson Snyder, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to Snyder Mfg. Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership composed of Ben Snyder and Ger- ASon Snyder Application August 26, 1942,v Serial No. 456,241

(ci. 25o-33) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in radio antennaek and more particularly to radio antennae of the extensible or telescoping type.

With the advent of the present war the use of radio antennae of the extensible or telescoping type have come into large use for military purposes and are used almost exclusively in conjunction with radio transmitting and receiving equipment on various types of motorized and mechanized military vehicles as well as on eld radio equipment such as the much publicized so-called walkie-talkie now in wide use. The constant continual usage, with accompanying jolts and vibration, to which such radios and their antenna are subjected, requires that the antennae be ruggedly constructed, have a minimum of parts, and be susceptible of being easily extended and collapsed yet, at the same time, be certain to remain in any position to which it may be adjustably extended. Too, the use of such antennae under operating conditions which usually are adverse, requires that such an antenna be electrically eicient and provide for good electrical contact between the several extensible sections thereof,

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention lis to provide a radio antenna construction of the extensible or telescoping type stated character in whichv the several sections 1 are effectively and automatically locked in 'fully extended relation against accidental collapse.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extensible or telescoping radio antenna of the type described embodying novel features of construction and arrangement whereby separation of the several telescoping sections is prevented with respect to both ends'of said sections.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a radio antenna of the character set forth wherein the sections of which are retained in any degree of partial extension to which positioned and wherein eicient electrical connection is constantly maintained between the various sections of the antenna.

A still further object of the invention is to provide 'a radio antenna of the' stated kind which is Veconomical to manufacture and simple and efflcient in operation.-

the various features and details of the construc- 4 tion and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth, described and claimed, and shown in the drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a radio set showing an antenna embodying the present invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section verticallyrthrough an antenna made according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a View in perspective of the base end of one of the tubular sections of an antenna embodying the present invention; and

, Figure 4 is a view in section showing the cooperative relationship which takes place between the base end of an antenna section and the outer end of the next outer antenna section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing,there is shown in Figure 1 a portable type of radio set I on the top of which is mounted a vertically extending antenna 2 of the telescoping type. The lower end of the antenna 2 may be secured in a base or like member 3 from which may depend a threaded stud or other member 4 for connection to the radio set I.

The antenna I proper comprises a plurality of substantially concentrically disposed tubular sections I Il, II, I2, I3 and I4 of metal, arranged for telescopic sliding movement one within another between a collapsed or contracted position and extended positions in which the several sections may be either wholly, or only partially, extended with respect to each other.

The outermost section Ill has its lower end suitably secured in the baise or like member 3 previously mentioned, and the successive inner sections I I, I2, I3 and I4 are disposed concentrically with respect to one another within said outermost section I0 for sliding telescoping movement with respect to each other and said section Ill as shown in the drawing.

The several tubular sections I0, II, I2, I3 and I4 are slightly spaced from one another along substantially their entire length and, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the upper or outer end of each of said sections is provided with a reduced neck portion I5 arranged to embrace snugly the exterior surface of the next inner section when the latter is extended with respect to such next outer section. These reduced neck portions I5 of the sections serve to prevent rain and other matter from passing downwardly between the several sections when extended and, in addition, as hereinafter set forth, cooperate to predone by scoring, threading, knurling or similarly treating the exterior surface of each section so as to upset the metal of the section to an extent` that a roughened surface is provided having portions of a diameter slightly greater than the remainder of the section so as to preclude passage of said upset portion I8 through the reduced j neck of the next outer section when the adjacent inner section is extended with respect thereto as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, thereby preventing separation of said sections.

In addition to prevent separation of the sections when adjacent sections are fully extended with respect to eachother, the upset area or band I8 on each section bites into the metal of the reduced neck portion of the adjacent outer section and serves to positively lock adjacent sections in their fully extended position against accidental collapse thereof as the result of jolts, vibration and the like during use. With adjacent sections thus locked in fully extended relation it is quite diiiicult, if not impossible, to collapse them by force exerted axially thereof, and in order to unlock the extended sections, it is necessary to effect -a relative rotation ofadjacent sections with respect to each other through but a few degrees to release the bite of the upset portion I8 of an inner section from the reduced neck of an adjacent outer section. When this has been done the sections may be collapsed readily and easily In radio antennae of the present type it is desirable to prevent an inner section from passing outwardly through the lower or base end of the adjacent outer section, and to this end the lower or base ends of the several inner sections II, I2, I3 and I4 are each provided with an inwardly spun flange or edge portion I9. This ange or edge portion I9 extends inwardly of each section a distance sucient to reside in the path of the lower end of the next inner section, .as shown in Figure 2, and thereby serves effectively to prevent such next inner section from passing downwardly through the lower end of the adjacent outer section. By this construction the use of separate stop members such as pins, collars and like independent structural elements is entirely eliminated.

For the purpose 'of providing a firm friction support for and between the several sections when any two of them may be only partially extended, there is secured exteriorly upon each of the sections II, I2, I3 and I4, at diametrically opposite sides thereof between the lower end and the upset portion I8, a pair of relatively strong leaf springs 20, 20. These springs 20, have their upper ends only secured to the sections while the lower ends of said springs are relatively free and diverge outwardly to firmly engage the inner wall surface of the surrounding section thus eliminating lateral play between adjacent sections and preventing rattling thereof while at the same time assuring that the sections will remain in any partially extended positionzto which they may be telescvopically 4adjusted.

It is, of course, absolutely essential that a good Aelectrical connection for radio frequency currents obtain at all times .between the several sections of the antenna, and in the present invention the springs 20, 2D on each section serve aditionally to provide an eicient electrical connection between adjacent sections with the result that whether ycollapsed or partially or wholly extended there exists at all times a good electrical connection through the successive sections from the innermost section to the outermost section and the radio set.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a radio antenna of the extensible orA telescoping type which is of a rugged, relatively simple construction involving a minimum number of movable and other parts wherein the several sections of such antenna are effectively and automatically locked when in their fully extended relation against accidental collapse as the result of `jolts and vibration during use. Too, the present construction serves to prevent an inner section or sections from passing outwardly through the lower end of an outer section without the necessity of employing separate stop rmembers such as pins, collars and the like,and there is also provided a rm friction support between thevsections which serves to prevent lateral play therebetween and prevents rattling, while at the same time providing good electrical contact between said sections and securing the same in any partially extended position to which they may be adjusted.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it is not intended that the invention be limited to such disclosure but that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A radio antenna of the character described comprising an outer tubular metal section and `a plurality of inner tubular metal sections all telescopically adjustable one within another and being spaced from adjacent sections substantially along their length, said sections each having an inwardly tapered neck portion at their upper end arranged snugly to Aembrace the exterior of the next innerv section when 'the latter is extended, means forlocking adjacent sections in y section, said locking means being releasable to permit collapse'of said sections by effecting relative rotation' of adjacent sections with respect to one another;A an inturned flange portion at the lower end of each of the inner sections eX- tending into thepath of the next inner section to prevent passage of thelatter through the lower end of the outwardly adjacent section, Vand Y spring members secured at diametrically opposite'sides of each of the inner sections between the lowere'nd Vandupset metal portion thereof,

said springs' engaging the interior surface of the jsir'e'd 'position to which. ltelescopcally adjusted.

"2.' A`radio antenna of the characterV described comprising an outer tubular metal section and a plurality of inner tubular metal sections all telescopically adjustable one within another and being spaced from adjacent sections substantially along their length, said sections each having an 'inwardly tapered neck portion at their upper end arranged snugly to embrace the exterior of the next inner section when the latter is extended, means for locking adjacent sections in fully extended relation against collapse thereof as a result of force exerted lengthwise of said sections comprising an upset portion externally of each of said inner sections adjacent the lower end thereof operable to bite into and interlock with the tapered neck portion of the next outer section, said locking means being releasable to permit collapse of said sections by effecting relative rotation of adjacent sections with respect to one another.

3. A radio antenna of the character described comprising an outer tubular metal section and a plurality of inner tubular metal sections all telescopically adjustable one within another and being spaced from adjacent sections substantially along their length, said sections each having an inwardly tapered neck portion at their upper end arranged snugly to embrace the exterior of the next inner section when the latter is extended, means for locking adjacent sections in fully extended relation against collapse thereof as a result of force exerted lengthwise of said sections comprising an upset portion externally of each of said inner sections adjacent the lower end thereof operable to bite into and interlock with the tapered neck portion of the next outer section, said locking means being releasable to permit collapse of said sections by effecting relative rotation of adjacent sections with respect to one another, an inturned flange portion at the lower end of each of the inner sections extending into thepath of the next inner section to prevent passage of the latter through the lower end of the outwardly adjacent section.

4. A radio antenna of the character described comprising an outer tubular metal section and a plurality of inner tubular metal sections all telescopically adjustable one within another and being spaced from adjacent sections substantially along their length, said sections each having an inwardly tapered neck portion at their upper end arranged snugly to embrace the exterior of the next inner section when the latter is extended, means for locking adjacent sections in fully extended relation against collapse thereof as a result of force exerted lengthwise of said sections comprising an upset portion externally of each of said inner sections adjacent the lower end thereof operable to bite into and interlock with the tapered neck portion of the next outer section, said locking means being releasable to permit collapse of said sections by eiecting relative rotation of adjacent sections with respect to one another, and spring members secured at diametrically opposite sides of each of the inner sections between the lower end and upset metal portion thereof, said springs engaging the interior surface of the outwardly adjacent section to provide electrical connection between adjacent sections and firmly support the same free from rattling in any desired position to which telescopically adjusted.

5. A radio antenna of the type described including a plurality of telescoping relatively spaced tubular metal sections each having an inwardly tapered neck portion at one end thereof arranged to embrace the exterior surface of the next inner section when relatively extended, and means for llocking adjacent sections in fully extended relation against collapse thereof as a result of force exerted lengthwise of said sections comprising an upset portion externally of each section other than the outermost section adjacent the lower ends thereof operable to bite into and interlock with the tapered neck portion of the next outer section,

said locking means being releasable to permit collapse of said sections by effecting relative rotation of adjacent sections with respect to one another.

GERSON SNYDER. 

